The "Flipped-Classroom" - A Project-based Technology Activity for Student and Teacher

Rating:

Description:

This tutorial will provide both flipped classrooomm and cyber teachers a demonstration on how to create a project-based activity using SMART Recorder, as well as an actual demonstration for students on how to use the Web 2.0 Technology, Wordle. The activity is geared towards project-based courses that provide content and require students to utilize that content.

What you will see below?

Content and supplemental videos for students to read outside the classroom

Demonstration video created by me to teach both teacher and student on project-based activities

Developing Effective Teams

312
Institutions have accepted or given pre-approval for credit transfer.

* The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE Credit®) has evaluated and recommended college credit for 27 of Sophia’s online courses. Many different colleges and universities consider ACE CREDIT recommendations in determining the applicability to their course and degree programs.

Tutorial

Flipped Classroom with Sample Lesson/Activity

Lesson Instructions

Please read the content below then watch the YouTube video on Medieval Times. Now that you have some background knowledge, please complete the activity labeled "Middle Ages Word Art".

***Note to reviewer: I created a tutorial video below that gives a thorough demonstration on how to create a Word Cloud using Wordle.

Essential Question:

What important cultural elements were incorporated into games created during Medieval Times?

*You do not have to answer this question but by the end of the activity, you should have a good idea of the answer.

The Atmosphere in Medieval Times

Medieval Times (500 - 1500 CE) in Europe were filled with violence, disease, inhumanity, conquest, barbarism, and destruction. Many historians refer to this period as the "Dark Ages," when the "light of learning" left society. Yet within that "dark" frame also is found human resilience, courage in the face of great danger and devastation, invention, fortitude, and the eventual rebirth of learning that led to the Renaissance (1348 - 1600). Many historians also consider the Middle Ages in Europe as the "Age of Faith," because Christian beliefs dominated and intertwined events as the centuries unfolded.

Intellectual Revival

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Europe enjoyed an intellectual revival, encouraged and supported in part by the Christianization of the Vikings and Magyars. Removing the threat of invasion gave everyone more free time, which increased time for playing games!

In addition to the free time, but related to the increased urbanization and quality of life, the Middle Ages saw an explosion in population. Historically, European cities had clustered along the coast, but in the Middle Ages they grew inland along the roads and rivers. The rise of Paris and London influenced the economy and trade, both of which expanded along with the population. Italian city-states such as Venice, Genoa, and Pisa evolved into major powers, fueled by their connections to the European heartland as well as their access to the Mediterranean. Kings rose to prominence, and the monarchies in France, England and Spain consolidated their power and became driving forces in Europe for hundreds of years, until revolutions unseated them or curtailed their power.

Christianity

Christianity and the influence wielded by the Catholic Church on the daily lives of everyone from King to peasant was powerful. There was no individual with more power in Europe than the Pope in Rome. Kings ruled through the blessing of the Pope and the Church; the concept of Divine Right was leveraged by the Kings to curry favor with the Pope as well as to keep the peasants under control.

The coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in 800.

Life was hard for the lower classes, and keys to the goal of achieving life everlasting in heaven after enduring the toil of this existence were held by the priests, bishops and cardinals of the Church. The Church during this time period was instrumental in preserving the wisdom and knowledge of the great civilizations of the earlier times (most particularly the Greeks).

For a concise overview of this period of time, take a look at this Crash Course World History video titled The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really? Then head to the next lesson for a great leap in time to Modern German Family Games.

The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?

Middle Ages Word Art Activity

Assignment Description:

After you read the following assignment, please navigate to the video below to receive a detailed demonstration on how to complete the activity. This is similar to an in-class demonstration but gives you the freedom to re-watch, rewind and take your time!

Here’s the challenge:

Create a Middle Ages Word Art image by:

Visiting the provided websites listed below.

THEN, choose 25 words from your reading that describe the period of time of AD 500 – 1500.

Finally, we are going to use the Web 2.0 tool Wordle, a word cloud generator, to complete the assignment (demo below).

Be creative! Make sure the design reflects your insights about this time in European history.